Liquid crystalline medium

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium with positive dielectric anisotropy and high optical anisotropy, characterized in that it contains one or more biphenyl derivatives comprising a terminal alkenyl group, and its use in electrooptical displays and projection systems, in particular reflective displays and displays based on a birefringence effect, such as OCB displays.

[0001] The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium with positive dielectric anisotropy and high optical anisotropy, characterized in that it contains one or more biphenyl derivatives comprising a terminal alkenyl group, and its use in electrooptical displays and projection systems, in particular reflective displays, LCoS™ displays and displays based on a birefringence effect, such as OCB displays.

[0002] Displays of the OCB (optically compensated bend) are based on a birefringence effect and comprise a liquid crystal layer with a bend structure. The bend cell, also known as pi-cell, was first proposed by P. Bos et al., SID 83 Digest, 30 (1983) for an electrically controllable half-wave plate, whereas the OCB mode for displays was described by Y. Yamaguchi, T. Miyashita and T. Uchida, SID 93 Digest, 277 (1993), followed by papers of T. Miyashita et al. in, inter alia, Proc. Eurodisplay, 149 (1993), J.Appl.Phys. 34, L177 (1995), SID 95 Digest, 797 (1995), and C. -L. Kuo et al., SID 94 Digest, 927 (1994). An OCB cell comprises a liquid crystal cell with bend alignment and a liquid crystal medium with positive Δε. Furthermore, OCB displays as reported in the above papers comprise one or more birefringent optical retardation films to eliminate light leakage by the bend cell in the black state. OCB displays bear several advantages like for example a wider viewing angle and shorter switching times than conventional displays based on twisted nematic (TN) cells.

[0003] The above mentioned papers have shown that liquid-crystalline phases must have high values for the optical anisotropy Δn and a relatively high positive value for the dielectric anisotropy Δε, and preferably should have rather low values for the ratio between the elastic constants K₃₃/K₁₁ and for the viscosity, in order to be usable for high-information display elements based on the OCB effect. The industrial application of the OCB effect in electro-optical display elements requires LC phases which must satisfy a multiplicity of requirements. Particularly important here are chemical resistance to moisture, air and physical effects such as heat, radiation in the infra-red, visible and ultra-violet regions and direct and alternating electrical fields. Furthermore, LC phases which can be used industrially need a liquid-crystalline mesophase in a suitable temperature range, a relatively high birefringence, a positive dielectric anisotropy and a low viscosity.

[0004] LCoS™ (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) displays are known in prior art and are available from Three-Five Systems Inc. (Tempe, Ariz., USA). LCoS™ microdisplays are reflective displays that typically comprise a liquid crystal layer with twisted nematic structure sandwiched by a silicon backplane and a cover glass. The silicon backplane is an array of pixels, each of which has a mirrored surface which is at the same time a conductor. Each pixel comprises a stationary mirror covered by an active liquid crystal layer with twisted nematic orientation that can be switched into homeotropic orientation by application of a voltage. LCoS™ microdisplays are small with a diagonal of typically less than 1.0″, however, they enable high resolution from ¼ VGA (78 thousand pixels) to UXGA+ (over 2 million pixels).

[0005] Due to the small pixel size LCoS™ displays also have a very thin cell thickness, which is typically about 1 micron. Therefore, liquid-crystalline phases used in these displays must in particular have high values for the optical anisotropy Δn, in contrast to conventional reflective type LC displays, which usually require LC phases with low Δn.

[0006] None of the series of compounds having a liquid-crystalline mesophase which have been disclosed hitherto includes a single compound which meets all these requirements. Generally, therefore, mixtures of from two to 25, preferably from three to 18, compounds are prepared to give substances which can be used as LC phases. However, ideal phases cannot easily be produced in this way, since liquid-crystal materials having at the same time high birefringence and low viscosity were hitherto not available.

[0007] OCB mode and LCoS™ displays can be operated as matrix displays. Matrix liquid-crystal displays (MLC displays) are known. Examples of nonlinear elements which can be used to individually switch the individual pixels are active elements (i.e. transistors). This is then referred to as an “active matrix”, and a differentiation can be made between two types:

[0008] 1. MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) transistors on silicon wafers as substrate,

[0009] 2. Thin-film transistors (TFT) on a glass plate as substrate.

[0010] In the case of type 1, the electro-optical effect used is usually dynamic scattering or the guest-host effect. The use of monocrystalline silicon as substrate material restricts the display size, since even the modular assembly of various part-displays results in problems at the joins.

[0011] In the case of the more promising type 2, which is preferred, the electro-optical effect used is usually the TN effect. A distinction is made between two technologies: TFTs comprising compound semi-conductors, such as, for example, CdSe, or TFTs based on polycrystalline or amorphous silicon. Intensive research efforts are being made worldwide in the latter technology.

[0012] The TFT matrix is applied to the inside of one glass plate of the display, while the inside of the other glass plate carries the transparent counterelectrode. Compared with the size of the pixel electrode, the TFT is very small and has virtually no adverse effect on the image. This technology can also be extended to fully colour-compatible image displays, in which a mosaic of red, green and blue filters is arranged in such a manner that each filter element is located opposite a switchable pixel.

[0013] The TFT displays disclosed hitherto usually operate as TN cells with crossed polarizers in transmitted light and are illuminated from the back. In case of OCB mode displays, however, reflective displays have also been proposed by T. Uchida, T. Ishinabe and M. Suzuki in SID 96 Digest, 618 (1996).

[0014] The term MLC display here covers any matrix display containing integrated nonlinear elements, i.e. in addition to the active matrix, also displays containing passive elements such as varistors or diodes (MIM=metal-insulator-metal).

[0015] MLC displays of this type are particularly suitable for TV applications (for example pocket TV sets) or for high-information displays in automobile or aircraft construction. In addition to problems with respect to the angle dependence of the contrast and the response times, difficulties occur in MLC displays due to inadequate resistivity of the liquid-crystal mixtures [TOGASHI, S., SEKIGUCHI, K., TANABE, H., YAMAMOTO, E., SORIMACHI, K., TAJIMA, E., WATANABE, H., SHIMIZU, H., Proc. Eurodisplay 84, September 1984: A 210-288 Matrix LCD Controlled by Double Stage Diode Rings, p. 141 ff, Paris; STROMER, M., Proc. Eurodisplay 84, September 1984: Design of Thin Film Transistors for Matrix Addressing of Television Liquid Crystal Displays, p. 145 ff, Paris]. As the resistance decreases, the contrast of an MLC display worsens. Since the resistivity of the liquid-crystal mixture generally decreases over the life of an MLC display due to interaction with the internal surfaces of the display, a high (initial) resistance is very important for displays which must have acceptable resistance values over a long operating period.

[0016] The disadvantage of the MLC-TN displays disclosed hitherto is due to their comparatively low contrast, the relatively high viewing angle dependence and the difficulty of producing grey shades in these displays.

[0017] Thus, there continues to be a great demand for MLC displays, in particular displays based on a birefringence effect, such as OCB displays, having very high resistivity at the same time as a wide operating temperature range, short response times and low threshold voltage, with the aid of which various grey shades can be produced. Furthermore, there is a great demand for liquid crystalline media for OCB mode displays which exhibit at the same time low viscosities, high birefringence and relatively high positive dielectric anisotropy.

[0018] The invention has an object of providing MLC displays, in particular LCoS™ and reflective displays and displays of the OCB mode, which do not have the abovementioned disadvantages, or do so only to a reduced extent, and at the same time have very high resistivities.

[0019] Upon further study of the specification and appended claims, further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0020] It has now been found that these and other objects can be achieved if nematic liquid-crystal mixtures containing at least one biphenyl derivative with a terminal alkenyl group are used in these display elements.

[0021] The liquid crystalline mixtures according to the present invention are characterized in that they exhibit

[0022] a broad nematic phase range,

[0023] a high value of the birefringence,

[0024] a positive dielectric anisotropy,

[0025] a low viscosity, and

[0026] a high UV stability.

[0027] Therefore, when using the inventive liquid crystal mixture in an electrooptical display it is possible to reduce the values of the response time and the driving voltage, compared to displays comprising mixtures of the prior art, and at the same time to achieve displays that show a satisfying grey scale performance, a wide viewing angle and a high contrast.

[0028] The invention thus also relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having positive dielectric anisotropy, characterized in that it contains one or more compounds of formula I

[0029] wherein

[0030] R¹ is alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 15 C atoms, and

[0031] R² is alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms.

[0032] Preferred compounds of formula I are those wherein R¹ is alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms. Very preferably R¹ is methyl, ethyl or propyl, in particular methyl.

[0033] Further preferred compounds of formula I are those wherein R² is vinyl, 1E-propenyl, 1E-butenyl, 3E-butenyl or 3E-pentenyl, in particular 3E-butenyl or 3E-pentenyl.

[0034] Very preferred are compounds of formula Ia

[0035] wherein alkyl is an alkyl group with 1 to 8 C atoms, in particular methyl, and R^(2a) is H, methyl, ethyl or n-propyl, in particular methyl.

[0036] The liquid crystal mixture preferably in addition comprises one or more terphenyl compounds of formula II

[0037] wherein

[0038] R¹ has one of the meanings of formula I,

[0039] X⁰ is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, and

[0040] Y¹ and Y² are each independently of one another H or F.

[0041] Preferred compounds of formula II are those wherein X⁰ is F or Cl, in particular those wherein Y¹ and Y² are H.

[0042] The liquid crystal mixture preferably comprises in addition one or more polar compounds selected from the formulae III to VIII

[0043] wherein

[0044] R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms,

[0045] Z¹ is CF₂O, C₂F₄ or a single bond,

[0046] Z² is CF₂O, C₂F₄ or C₂H₄,

[0047] X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms,

[0048] Y¹ to Y⁴ are independently of each other H or F, and

[0049] r is 0 or 1.

[0050] The compounds of formula III are preferably selected from the following formulae:

[0051] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above, R⁰ is preferably n-alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms and X⁰ is preferably F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, in particular F or OCF₃.

[0052] Particularly preferably the liquid crystal mixture comprises one or more compounds of formula IIIa1

[0053] wherein alkenyl is vinyl, 1E-propenyl, 1E-butenyl, 3E-butenyl or 3E-pentenyl, in particular 3E-butenyl or 3E-pentenyl, in particular vinyl.

[0054] The compounds of formula IV are preferably selected from the following formulae

[0055] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above, R⁰ is preferably n-alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms, and X⁰ is preferably F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, in particular F or OCF₃.

[0056] Particularly preferred are compounds of formula IVa, IVb and IVc, in particular wherein X⁰ is F. Further preferred are compounds of formula IVf.

[0057] The compounds of formula VI are preferably selected from the following formulae

[0058] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above, R⁰ is preferably n-alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms, and X⁰ is preferably F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, in particular F or OCF₃.

[0059] Particularly preferred are compounds of formula VIa, VIb and VIc.

[0060] The compounds of formula VII are preferably selected from the following formulae

[0061] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above, R⁰ is preferably n-alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms, and X⁰ is preferably F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, in particular F or OCF₃.

[0062] Particularly preferred are compounds of formula VIIa, VIIb and VIIk, in particular those, wherein X⁰ is F.

[0063] The liquid crystal mixture preferably comprises in addition one or more four-ring compounds selected from the formulae IX to XVI.

[0064] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above and Y¹, Y², Y³, Y⁴ and Y⁵ are independently of each other H or F. R⁰ is preferably n-alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms. X⁰ is preferably F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, in particular F or OCF₃. Y⁴ and Y⁵ are preferably H. Especially preferred are compounds of formula XVI, wherein Y¹ and Y³ are F, Y² is H or F and Y⁴ and Y⁵ are H.

[0065] The liquid crystal mixture preferably comprises in addition one or more compounds selected from the formulae XVII to XIX.

[0066] wherein R⁰, Y¹ and X⁰ have the meanings given above, and the phenylene rings are optionally mono- or polysubstituted with F, Cl or CN. Preferably R⁰ is n-alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms, X⁰ is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, in particular F or Cl, and at least one phenylene ring is substituted with F.

[0067] Preferred compounds of formula XVII are those of formula XVIIa

[0068] wherein X⁰ is F or Cl, in particular F.

[0069] Preferred compounds of formula XVIII are those wherein Y¹ is F and X⁰ is F or Cl, in particular F.

[0070] The liquid crystal mixture preferably comprises in addition one or more compounds selected from the formulae XX to XXIII.

[0071] wherein R³ and R⁴ have independently of each other one of the meanings of R¹ in formula I and L is H or F.

[0072] In the compounds of formula XX R³ and R⁴ are preferably alkyl with 1 to 8 C atoms or alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms.

[0073] In the compounds of formula XXI, XXII and XXIII R³ and R⁴ are preferably alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 8 C atoms.

[0074] The invention furthermore relates to an electrooptical display, preferably a display having active matrix addressing based on the OCB effect, reflective display or an LCoS™ display, characterized in that it contains, as dielectric, a liquid-crystalline medium as described above.

[0075] Preferably the mixture consists essentially of compounds selected from the group of the general formulae I, II, and III to XXIII.

[0076] Preferred embodiments of the the present invention relate to mixtures that contain:

[0077] at least 5%, preferably 5 to 30% by weight of one or more compounds of the formula I.

[0078] at least 10%, preferably 10 to 45% by weight of one or more compounds of the formula II.

[0079] 20 to 75%, preferably 25 to 68% by weight of one or more compounds of formula IV, in particular selected of formula IVa, IVb and IVc

[0080] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above.

[0081] at least one compound of formula Ia, in particular wherein R is CH₃ and R^(2a) is CH₃.

[0082] at least one compound formula II wherein X⁰ is Cl and Y¹ and Y² are H.

[0083] at least one compound of formula IIIa1, in particular wherein alkenyl is vinyl.

[0084] at least one compound of formula VII, in particular of formula VIIk, wherein X⁰ is F.

[0085] at least one compound of formula IX, in particular wherein X⁰, Y¹, Y² and Y³ are F.

[0086] one or more compounds of formula XVI, wherein X⁰ is F, OCF₃ or OCHF₂, Y¹ and Y³are F, Y²is H or F and Y⁴and Y⁵are H.

[0087] one or more fluorinated terphenyls of the following formulae

[0088] wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meaning given in formula I, and X⁰ is preferably F or Cl.

[0089] at least one compound of formula XXI, wherein L is H or F.

[0090] The compounds of formula I and their synthesis are described in the German patent application DE10128492.6. The compounds of formula II-XXIII are known from prior art or can be prepared according to known methods.

[0091] By using compounds of formula I it is possible to obtain inventive liquid crystalline mixtures with at the same time high birefringence and high clearing point. The use of compounds of formula II leads to high values of the birefringence in the inventive mixtures.

[0092] The liquid-crystal mixture preferably has a nematic phase range of at least 75 K, a clearing point above 60° C., in particular above 70° C.

[0093] The birefringence Δn in the liquid-crystal mixture is preferably at least 0.18, very preferably at least 0.19, in particular 0.20 or higher. The dielectric anisotropy is preferably greater than +6, very preferably at least +7.5.

[0094] The mixtures according to the present invention usually are based on the medium polar components having the indicated core structure and other non-cyano components. Of course, however, such mixtures can also additionally contain known cyano LC components, preferably compounds of the formula XXIV

[0095] wherein R⁰ , r, Y¹ and Y² have the meanings given above, and

[0096] is trans-1,4-cyclohexylene or 1,4-phenylene, if extremely high values for the HR are not needed, e.g. for TN or STN-use. The resulting mixtures are important for achieving very broad nematic phase ranges including very low temperatures (outdoor use).

[0097] The mixtures are preferably based on halogenated components of medium polarity and/or are essentially free of cyano components.

[0098] In the components of the formulae I to XXIV, R⁰, R¹, R³, and R⁴ are preferably a straight-chained alkyl radical of 1 to 7 carbon atoms or is straight-chained methoxy alkyl (methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, methoxypropyl, methoxybutyl, methoxypentyl, methoxyhexyl, methoxyheptyl).

[0099] The term “alkenyl” comprises straight chain and branched alkenyl groups with 2 to 7 C atoms. Straight chain alkenyl groups are preferred. Further preferred alkenyl groups are C₂-C₇-1E-alkenyl, C₄-C₇-3E-alkenyl, C₅-C₇-4-alkenyl, C₆-C₇-5-alkenyl and C₇-6-alkenyl, in particular C₂-C₇-1E-alkenyl, C₄-C₇-3E-alkenyl and C₅-C₇-4-alkenyl.

[0100] Of these, especially preferred alkenyl groups are vinyl, 1E-propenyl, 1E-butenyl, 1E-pentenyl, 1E-hexenyl, 1E-heptenyl, 3-butenyl, 3E-pentenyl, 3E-hexenyl, 3E-heptenyl, 4-pentenyl, 4Z-hexenyl, 4E-hexenyl, 4Z-heptenyl, 5-hexenyl and 6-heptenyl. Alkenyl groups with up to 5 C atoms are particularly preferred.

[0101] The preparation of the mixtures according to the invention is effected in the conventional manner. In general, the desired amount of the components which is used in the smaller amount is dissolved in the components which constitutes the main constituent, preferably at elevated temperature. If this temperature is chosen to be above the clearing point of the main constituent, the completeness of the process of dissolving can be observed particularly easily.

[0102] However, it is also possible to mix solutions of the components in a suitable organic solvent, for example acetone, chloroform or methanol, and to remove the solvent by distillation.

[0103] By means of suitable additives the liquid crystal phases according to the invention can be modified in such a way that they can be used in any hitherto disclosed kind of AMD.

[0104] The entire disclosure(s) of all applications, patents and publications, cited above or below, and of corresponding European Application No. 01115344.2, filed Jun. 26, 2001, is hereby incorporated by reference.

EXAMPLES

[0105] The examples below serve to illustrate the invention without limiting it. In the examples, the melting point and clearing point of a liquid crystal substance are given in degrees Celsius. The percentages are by weight.

[0106] In the present patent application and in the following examples all chemical structures of LC compounds are given by acronyms the transformation of which into chemical formulae is done as shown in the following. All residues C_(n)H_(2n+1) and C_(m)H_(2m+1) are straight-chained alkyl groups with n resp. m carbon atoms. The code of Table B is self-explanatory. In Table A only the acronym for the core structure is given. In the examples, this acronym is followed by a dash and a code for the substituents R¹, R², L¹ and L² as follows: Code for R¹, R², L¹, L² R¹ R² L¹ L² nm C_(n)H_(2n+1) C_(m)H_(2m+1) H H nOm C_(n)H_(2n+1) OC_(m)H_(2m+1) H H nO.m OC_(n)H_(2n+1) C_(m)H_(2m+1) H H n C_(n)H_(2n+1) CN H H nN.F C_(n)H_(2n+1) CN H F nF C_(n)H_(2n+1) F H H nOF OC_(n)H_(2n+1) F H H nCl C_(n)H_(2n+1) Cl H H nF.F C_(n)H_(2n+1) F H F nF.F.F C_(n)H_(2n+1) F F F nCF₃ C_(n)H_(2n+1) CF₃ H H nOCF₃ C_(n)H_(2n+1) OCF₃ H H nOCF₂ C_(n)H_(2n+1) OCHF₂ H H n-V C_(n)H_(2n+1) —CH═CH₂ H H V-F CH₂═CH— F H H nS C_(n)H_(2n+1) NCS H H rVsN C_(r)H_(2r+1)—CH═CH— CN H H C_(s)H_(2s)— rEsN C_(r)H_(2r+1)—O—C_(S)H_(2s)— CN H H nAm C_(n)H_(2n+1) COOC_(m)H_(2m+1) H H nOCCF₂.F.F C_(n)H_(2n+1) OCH₂CF₂H F F

[0107] TABLE A

[0108] TABLE B

[0109] The following abbreviations are used Δn denotes the optical anisotropy measured at 20° C. and 589 nm n_(e) denotes the extraordinary refractive index at 20° C. and 589 nm Δε denotes the dielectric anisotropy at 20° C. ε_(∥) denotes the dielectric constant in the parallel direction to the molecular axis cp denotes the clearing point [° C.]

Example 1

[0110] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 9.0% cp 99.0 GGP-5-Cl 26.0% Δn 0.1999 PGIGI-3-F 13.0% n_(e) 1.7143 BCH-3F.F 8.0% Δε +8.8 BCH-5F.F 6.0% ε_(∥) 13.2 BCH-3F.F.F 10.0% BCH-5F.F.F 9.0% CBC-33F 2.0% CBC-53F 3.0% CCG-V-F 6.0% PP-1-2V1 8.0%

Example 2

[0111] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 9.0% cp 98.0 GGP-5-Cl 26.0% Δn 0.2007 PGIGI-3-F 13.0% n_(e) 1.7163 BCH-3F.F 7.0% BCH-5F.F 7.0% BCH-3F.F.F 8.0% BCH-5F.F.F 8.0% CBC-53F 5.0% CCG-V-F 7.0% PP-1-2V1 10.0%

Example 3

[0112] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 9.0% cp 102.0 GGP-5-Cl 26.0% Δn 0.2000 PGIGI-3-F 13.0% n_(e) 1.7142 BCH-3F.F 7.0% BCH-5F.F 7.0% BCH-3F.F.F 7.0% BCH-5F.F.F 8.0% CBC-33F 2.0% CBC-53F 4.0% CCG-V-F 9.0% PP-1-2V1 8.0%

Example 4

[0113] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 10.0% cp 101.0 GGP-5-Cl 26.0% Δn 0.2002 PGIGI-3-F 13.0% n_(e) 1.7154 BCH-3F.F 5.0% Δε +8.3 BCH-5F.F 7.0% ε_(∥) 12.5 BCH-3F.F.F 9.0% BCH-5F.F.F 10.0% CBC-33F 3.0% CBC-53F 3.0% CCG-V-F 6.0% PP-1-2V1 8.0%

Example 5

[0114] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 10.0% cp 101.0 GGP-5-Cl 26.0% Δn 0.2028 PGIGI-3-F 13.0% n_(e) 1.7182 BCH-3F.F 7.0% Δε +7.7 BCH-5F.F 7.0% ε_(∥) 11.9 BCH-3F.F.F 7.0% BCH-5F.F.F 7.0% CBC-53F 6.0% CCG-V-F 7.0% PP-1-2V1 10.0%

Example 6

[0115] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 11.0% cp 101.0 GGP-5-Cl 26.0% Δn 0.2010 PGIGI-3-F 12.0% n_(e) 1.7161 BCH-3F.F.F 12.5% Δε +9.3 BCH-5F.F.F 16.5% ε_(∥) 13.5 CBC-33F 3.5% CBC-53F 4.5% CCG-V-F 6.0% PP-1-2V1 8.0%

Example 7

[0116] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 12.0% cp 100.5 GGP-5-Cl 27.0% Δn 0.2003 PGIGI-3-F 10.0% n_(e) 1.7151 BCH-3F.F.F 12.5% Δε +10.2 BCH-5F.F.F 15.5% ε_(∥) 14.5 CBC-33F 3.0% CBC-53F 4.0% CCG-V-F 8.0% PP-1-2V1 5.0% PGU-2-F 1.0% PGU-3-F 2.0%

Example 8

[0117] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-3-Cl 12.0% cp 101.5 GGP-5-Cl 27.0% Δn 0.2001 PGIGI-3-F 8.0% n_(e) 1.7145 BCH-3F.F.F 13.5% Δε +9.7 BCH-5F.F.F 17.5% ε_(∥) 13.9 CBC-33F 4.0% CBC-53F 4.0% CCG-V-F 5.5% PP-1-2V1 8.5%

Comparison Example

[0118] A liquid crystal mixture is prepared that comprises GGP-5-Cl 16.0% cp 102.0 BCH-2F.F 11.0% Δn 0.1610 BCH-3F.F 11.0% n_(e) 1.6692 BCH-5F.F 6.0% Δε +10.9 CGU-2-F 9.0% ε_(∥) 15.3 CGU-3-F 9.0% CGU-5-F 8.0% BCH-3F.F.F 8.0% CCGU-3-F 7.0% BCH-32 10.0% CBC-33 3.0% CBC-53 2.0%

[0119] and exhibits a significantly lower optical anisotropy than the mixtures of examples 1 to 8 comprising a compound of formula I (PP-1-2V1).

[0120] The preceding examples can be repeated with similar success by substituting the generically or specifically described reactants and/or operating conditions of this invention for those used in the preceding examples.

[0121] From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

1. A liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds of positive dielectric anisotropy, which comprises one or more compounds of formula I

wherein R¹ is alkyl or alkoxy with 1 to 15 C atoms, and R² is alkenyl with 2 to 7 C atoms.
 2. A medium according to claim 1, which additionally comprises one or more compounds of formula II

wherein R¹ has one of the meanings given under formula I, X⁰ is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, and Y¹ and Y² are each independently of one another H or F.
 3. A medium according to claim 1, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae III to VIII

wherein R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms, Z¹ is CF₂O, C₂F₄ or a single bond, Z² is CF₂O, C₂F₄ or C₂H₄, X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, Y¹ to Y⁴ are independently of each other H or F, and r is 0 or
 1. 4. A medium according to claim 2, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae III to VIII

wherein R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms, Z¹ is CF₂O, C₂F₄ or a single bond, Z² is CF₂O, C₂F₄ or C₂H₄, X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, Y¹ to Y⁴ are independently of each other H or F, and r is 0 or
 1. 5. A medium according to claim 1, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae IX to XVI.

wherein R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms, X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, Y¹ to Y⁵ are independently of each other H or F, and r is 0 or
 1. 6. A medium according to claim 2, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae IX to XVI.

wherein R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms, X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, Y¹ to Y⁵ are independently of each other H or F, and r is 0 or
 1. 7. A medium according to claim 3, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae IX to XVI.

wherein R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms, X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, Y¹ to Y⁵ are independently of each other H or F, and r is 0 or
 1. 8. A medium according to claim 1, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae XVII to XIX

wherein R⁰ is alkyl, alkoxy, fluoroalkyl, alkenyl or oxaalkenyl with 1 to 9 C atoms, X⁰ is is F, Cl, CF₃, OCF₃, OCHF₂, fluoroalkyl or fluoroalkoxy with up to 7 carbon atoms, Y¹ is H or F, and r is 0 or
 1. have the meanings given above, and the phenylene rings are optionally mono- or polysubstituted with F, Cl or CN.
 9. A medium according to claim 1, which additionally comprises one or more compounds selected from the formulae XX to XXIII

wherein R³ and R⁴ have independently of each other one of the meanings of R¹ in formula I and L is H or F.
 10. A medium according to claim 1, which comprises one or more compounds of formula Ia

wherein alkyl is an alkyl group with 1 to 8 C atoms and R^(2a) is H or methyl.
 11. A medium according to claim 3, which comprises 20 to 75% by weight of one or more compounds selected from formulae IVa, IVb and IVc

wherein R⁰ and X⁰ have the meanings given above.
 12. A medium according to claim 1, which comprises 5 to 15% by weight of one or more compounds of the formula I.
 13. A medium according to claim 2, which comprises 10 to 45% by weight of one or more compounds of the formula II.
 14. A liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal mixture according to claim
 1. 15. An electrooptical liquid-crystal display of the LCoS or OCB mode containing a liquid-crystal mixture according to claim
 1. 16. A medium of claim 2, which comprises a compound of the formula II wherein X⁰ is Cl and Y¹ and Y² are H.
 17. A medium of claim 3, which comprises at least one compound of the formula VII wherein X⁰ is F. 